Is Sleepy Hollow a real place or just fiction name? It is a real place. Although the name described in Washington Irving’s story was based on real life the name did not always exist. in 1996, after a couple of failed tries and much debate, residents voted 2-to-1 to change the name of the village to Sleepy Hollow, capitalizing on Irving's 1820 tale and people's growing fascination with the supernatural and Halloween.
When you think of American folklore and Halloween you can not avoid this legend. Now you can live it. There are plenty of activities to enjoy or you can simply drive by the sights. This town comes alive this time of year when the leaves change color.
This is an area renowned for ghosts and ghost stories. The main character in the Legend is the headless horseman. The are many stories involving who the headless horseman might be including the ghost of a Hessian Revolutionary War soldier whose head was shot off by a cannon ball.
Something I think is really cool is The Evening Lantern Tour of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. I have visited this cemetery during the day but really you can’t begin to have the same experience. And you will be traveling back in time. Some of the residents there include William Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, John Dustin Archbold and others resting in peace in the north end. You won’t see it on the tour but you can come back during the day to see Washington Irving’s grave.
Here is a picture of the tour courtesy of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, a 501(c)3 organization. More information is available at Sleeping Hollow Cemetery Tours.
It also says on the site, "Did you know Washington Irving lived through a viral epidemic, too? And why is he called the Original Knickerbocker anyway?" I am not sure I know. Maybe I should go on the tour this week.
This is my third post to Kathy Streib 's October Challenge - Help us fall in love with your area.
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